The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-27
Sacrificing Principles for Success.

Sacrificing Principles for Success.
The attitude of the Republican papers of
New York with respect to the United Labor
party, whose ticket has Henry Georges
name at its head, is rather interesting sub
ject for study They give the new party all
the encouragement they can without &C
tually supporting it, They do not criticise
its leaders or its candidates, and they i'm
prove every opportunity to say that it will,
in all probability, cast large vote.
This attitude of the New York Republi-
can papers is due to their belief that the
new party win draw its strength chiefly
from the Democratic party, and will make
it possible for the Republican party to carry
the State at the election this fall.
But even if the new party should draw
more votes from the Democratic than the
Republican party, it is by no means certain
that tho Republican party would carry the
State, The Prohibition party is much
stronger in New York now than it has been
at any previous time in its history. Its con-
vention met at Syracuse on Thursday, and
was engaged in the work of framing plat
form and nominating a ticket yesterday. 1t
will doubtless poll about as many votes
as the new party, and they will be drawn
almost entirely from the Republican party.
The strongholds of the new party are in the
cities; those of the Prohibition party in the
rural districts Unless the new party polls
a phenomenal vote, like that polled by
Henry George at the municipal election in
New York city, it would not be surprising if
the Prohibition vote were larger than the
new party vote.
The Republican papers, therefore, have
excellent reasons for trying to build up the
new party. They hope to make 1T do the
Democratic party more damage than the
Prohibition party will do their party.
The struggle for success causes forgetful-
ness of principles. 1t seems strange, for
instance, to see the New York Tribune, the
leading protectionist organ of the country,
lending helping hand 10 Henry George,
an avowed free trader. The truth of the
remark that politics make strange bed
fellows was never more clearly illustrated
than in this case. Mr.. George is not only a
free trader, but the land theory he teaches is
akin TO the doctrines of the Socialists. 1t is
VI ue IuaJ OHc IcW pdiby ItluSco W httNS
any association with the Socialists but there
is reason for thinking that its course in this
matter is dictated by the belief that the So
cialists would do it more harm than
good. If the new party leaders
believed that the Socialists would
strengthen their party it is not i'm
probable that an alliance with them would
be formed The Tribune, however, and
other Republican papers of New York have
nothing to say against Henry Georges land
theory, which has been adopted by his party.
Indeed, it is within the bounds of possibility
that they would advocate that theory if, by
so doing, they could insure the success of
the Republican party.
There is yet no occasion for the Demo
cratic party of New York to be alarmed.
The new party will not make such inroads
upon the Democratic vote as the Republi-
can leaders expect The vote which Henry
George received for Mayor of New York is
not a safe basis upon which to make a cal
culation of the new party's strength. 1t is
doubtful if the new party will poll in the
whole State as large vote as that which
Henry George received for Mayor. If it
does not, and the Prohibition vote is as large
as it is expected to be, the Democrats will
carry the State by fair ma jority.